As I mentioned last week, my family is a total Strawberry Angel Food Cake family. We’ve definitely carved out parts in our hearts (graphic) for Dirt Cake, Boozy Berry Cups, and Peaches ‘n’ Cream Cupcakes for other warm-weather dessert occasions, but light-as-air angel food cake topped with cold whipped cream and freshly sliced strawberries is about as easy and delicious as it comes. Pure summer.
Inspired by the salad in a jar I had in Monterey last week, I decided to give the classic dessert a little twist by layering it in a wide-mouthed mason jar, vs slicing and serving on a plate, and call it Strawberry Angel Food Cake Jars! Because, really, when’s the last time eating something out of a jar made you less than sublimely happy – especially when homemade whipped cream is involved?
These sweet treats are great for spring and summer get-togethers, especially Memorial Day, when it’s hot out and you want to end the meal with something light. Assemble the jars a few hours ahead of time or, for some real fun, make an Angel Food Cake Jar bar by laying out cubes of angel food cake, homemade whipped cream, and tons of different berry varieties so people can make their own layered concoctions.
So fun, right?
Start the Strawberry Angel Food Cake Jars with a 7″ Angel Food Cake. I just love Angel Food Cake as it’s basically like eating sweet and puffy cake clouds. Winning! BTW, I was 16 years old the first and last time I tried to make my own AFC. After taking what felt like an hour whipping up a million egg whites then tenderly folding in the rest of the cake ingredients, the dang thing never came out of the pan after baking. Ever since then I’ve taken a little help from the bakery section at the grocery store with no regrets.
Store-bought Angel Food Cake: $2.99
Bypassing serious feelings of baking inadequacy: Priceless.
Cut the Angel Food Cake into 2″ squares then set aside.
Next, slice 6 cups fresh strawberries (about 2lbs.) I have tasted a noticeable difference in sweetness and flavor in strawberries over the past couple of weeks. In all berry varieties, actually!
Finally, whip up a batch of homemade whipped cream. Now there is a time and a place for Cool Whip, but there is a time and a place for homemade whipped cream – and this is it. With so few ingredients involved in the recipe, every one of ’em has to be absolutely delicious.
Start by chilling the the mixing bowl of your electric mixer, or a glass bowl, in the freezer for at least 10 minutes, then pour in 1 pint heavy whipping cream.Â
Add 1 teaspoon vanilla then turn the mixer to medium speed and gradually add 1/4 cup powdered sugar.
Turn the mixer up as high as she’ll go then whip until the cream can hold it’s shape, 2-3 minutes. Don’t over beat, or you’ll have butter!
Layer the Strawberry Angel Food Cake Jars by placing a few cubes of Angel Food Cake into the bottom of a jar, followed by 1/2 cup sliced strawberries, and a generous dollop of homemade whipped cream.
Repeat the layers once more, then serve!
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Strawberry Angel Food Cake Jars
Description
 Strawberry Angel Food Cake Jars are a sweet and simple treat. Fresh berries, cubed angel food cake, and lightly-sweetened homemade whipped cream are absolutely heavenly!
Ingredients
- 1, 7" angel food cake
- 6 cups sliced strawberries (about 2lbs)
- 1 pint heavy whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
Directions
- Slice angel food cake into 2" cubes then divide cubes in half. Divide each half into 6 portions then place 1 portion into the bottom of a 12-oz mason jar (you'll need 6 total.) Top with 1/2 cup sliced strawberries and a dollop (2-3 Tablespoons) of homemade whipped cream then repeat with remaining ingredients.
- For the homemade whipped cream: place the clean bowl of an electric mixer, or a large mixing bowl, into the freezer for 10 minutes. Fit the mixer with the whipping attachment then add whipping cream and vanilla to the chilled bowl. Whip the mixture on medium speed while gradually adding the powdered sugar then increase the speed to high and whip until cream can hold it’s shape, 2-3 minutes (do not over whip.) Refrigerate until ready to use.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
I can hardly stand how fabulous this dessert is! By the way, you can find mason jars at nearly every grocery store these days, and even the hardware store, but if you don’t want to make the investment, these are also super cute layered in martini glasses.
Aaand, scene.
Katie 05.22.2013
I truly believe there are things worth buying at the store rather than making homemade – angel food cake is one of them! This recipe looks amazing! Thanks for sharing! twinmomruns.blogspot.com
Karyl 05.22.2013
Hi! Great dessert! Is it just me, but when I go to pin your recipe, it keeps telling me invalid photo?!?
Iowa Girl Eats 05.22.2013
Hi Karyl! Someone just mentioned that on Facebook. :( Are you able to tell me what browser and version you are using? Thanks so much!
Chelsea @ Designs on Dinner 05.22.2013
It has been much too long since I’ve had angel food cake. These are great picnic desserts!
Lauren Williams 05.22.2013
Just texted! thanks for the reminder! I sure will keep praying for everyone involved.
The strawberry desert looks so yummy and the mason jars are perfect!
Memorial Day Sale –
http://www.etsy.com/shop/somethingbeautiful19
Jess 05.22.2013
My first ever attempt at angel food cake was around the same time and also was a miserable failure. Store-bought is delightful, especially when it can be turned into such simple, lovely desserts – perfect for summer!
Kristen@Slender Kitchen 05.21.2013
These look great. Love the idea of adding everything to a cute mason jar. Perfect for serving and built in portion control.
dana 05.21.2013
gorgeous! gorgeous recipe, gorgeous berries, gorgeous photos. Bravo, friend!!
Pamela 05.21.2013
Beautiful – love strawberry shortcake. So fresh and summery! Have you visited All Spice in the East Village? I highly recommend the vanilla paste (an extract substitute that will have everyone convinced you scraped the beans yourself) and the ground Saigon cinnamon. I stock up on both every time I visit DSM.
Nina @ Too Hottie For That Body 05.21.2013
You are blowing my mind with this right now! We just got done grilling your maple orange salmon and this would have been the perfect dessert maybe with a little orange zest to tie the two together… That’s it I’m gonna have to have redo.
Danyel 05.21.2013
Please don’t give up on homemade angel food cake! It’s leaps and bounds ahead of store bought. Have to use a sharp long paring knife to cut around the ouside and around the core to get it out of the pan. Can’t wait to have this!
Tieghan 05.21.2013
These are so pretty!! I wan one and I do not even love angel food cake, but OMG they look so good!
Jane 05.21.2013
You can also find mason jars while thrifting, either at garage sales or thrift stores. Just wash and use. And if you decide to can something you just have to buy lids and rings. My mil always finds canning jars at yard sales :)
Jan @ Sprouts n Squats 05.21.2013
Yum that looks so good and would be great for entertaining :)
Alexis 05.21.2013
ha! i have that EXACT hy-vee angel food cake in my kitchen right now. i could not get your friday favorite AFC french toast out of my head so it was sunday after-church brunch. delish! now i have another use for it :)
Teresa 05.21.2013
Those look delicious, and I love treats in Mason jars and martini glasses.
I also tried making a from scratch angel food cake, complete fail. However, I love the cake mix angel food and it is soooo easy, and way better than store bought. I always think the store bought has a chemical taste. I’m not saying I don’t ever buy them, but I do greatly prefer the from a box cake. I used to ask for them for my birthday cake every year as a child. I still think it’s my fav cake.
nessa 05.21.2013
The pictures are great and this looks delicious!
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) 05.21.2013
Wow, those are seriously so gorgeous!!! I can’t tell you how much I want a taste of this now. Serious craving going on.
Britney Mills 05.21.2013
These look so good! Thanks for sharing!
Lauren 05.21.2013
A lot of things make me smile about this refreshing dessert, but one of them is your cute measuring spoon! I’ve never seen one like it. Mind me asking where it’s from?
Iowa Girl Eats 05.21.2013
Thanks! The set is from Anthropologie. The spoons don’t measure correctly (they’re over-sized) but they sure look pretty! ;)
erin @hooleywithaz 05.21.2013
i do so wish those anthro measuring things were correct! they are too adorable.
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl 05.21.2013
This looks so pretty and fresh. Love seeing it all in the jar, every single yummy layer!